PTT - 72

Though he wanted to drink on her behalf, Si-heon couldn’t bring himself to swallow alcohol so soon after being discharged. Gently nudging Ra-on’s cheeks, he pushed the heavy wine glass slightly aside.

“Again with the baby talk? Are you really that drunk?”

“What can I do if you’re just so cute to look at? You’re like a soft, chewy rice cake.”

“Ah… Seriously. What if I get into trouble and hurt myself because of this?”

Her words came out jumbled, unfiltered by coherence. The sweet grape aroma filled her mouth as she blinked drowsily, swaying her body left and right. Muttering to herself, Ra-on sighed.

“…You always tease me. It’s unfair.”

“You called me ‘self’ just now, didn’t you?”

“What are you talking about… Am I your ‘self’? That’s something only couples use.”

Despite her attempts to regain clarity, her speech slurred naturally. Pressing her chin against Si-heon’s broad, firm shoulder, Ra-on suddenly felt a wave of panic and stood up abruptly.

“Ah, I need to sober up… I might cause trouble if I stay like this.”

“Only realizing this now? Let’s go get some fresh air. Mabel and Rock should be back soon.”

It had already been five minutes since they disappeared. After covering the deeply asleep Ray with a blanket, Si-heon and Ra-on stepped outside Ajit.

Though it was spring, the night air still carried a chill. Just as Si-heon was about to drape his coat over Ra-on, an unbelievable sight unfolded before them.

“Huh…? Isn’t that Mabel and Rock…?”

“Could it be…”

Under the lamppost 10 meters away, the two were locked in a passionate kiss. Was she seeing things? Rubbing her eyes to confirm, Ra-on froze in shock.

Watching them embrace and continue kissing, she suddenly felt sober. Stunned, Si-heon and Ra-on exchanged glances.

The atmosphere between the two had always been unusual, but to have their suspicions confirmed… Ra-on’s eyes sharpened as she exchanged a silent conversation with Si-heon. Should they pretend not to notice and head back inside?

Just as she gestured subtly to Si-heon, Rock sensed their presence and turned his head. Instantly, a look of panic crossed his usually composed face. Even someone as stoic as Rock couldn’t remain calm after being caught red-handed.

“Ah…”

“Hmm? Why, Jae-won-ah. I want more… Oh.”

“Well… We came out for some fresh air too.”

The petrified couple stared at Si-heon and Ra-on. They were equally embarrassed. It felt like uncovering a secret they weren’t meant to know. Si-heon awkwardly chuckled, moistening his dry lips.

“Mabel and Rock… You two look good together.”

Should he tease them as usual? Though the NIS was a secretive organization, it didn’t forbid workplace romances. Neither he nor Ra-on had any intention of reprimanding them. The issue lay in how the two would feel about being discovered.

“Ah… Nyx.”

“Uh… What do we do? Team Leader, and Yeon-ah. Um, Rock and I… I was really drunk, so…”

“We’re dating.”

“What? Hey, why are you blurting it out like that?”

Ra-on wasn’t the only one who had sobered up. Mabel snapped to attention as if struck at the back of her head. However, Rock’s bombshell left her wide-eyed.

Are you crazy? Mabel punched his shoulder repeatedly. Quickly regaining his usual composure, Rock alternated his gaze between Si-heon and Ra-on.

“I’m sorry if this comes as a shock. We planned to tell you discreetly later. Rest assured, our relationship won’t affect mission performance. We’ll maintain clear boundaries between work and personal life.”

Though his tone was calm, Rock’s tension was palpable. Meeting his gaze, Si-heon let out a low chuckle.

“No need to confess so formally. Am I going to discipline you as team leader? Relax, Rock, Mabel. Congratulations are overdue. I thought you two looked good together, but I didn’t expect you were actually dating.”

“You two… congratulations. Were we interrupting your date tonight? Sorry about that.”

“Ah, no, it’s fine… I’m completely sober now. I almost bit my tongue from the shock earlier. I never expected you two to come out here…”

Mabel, unusually flustered, rubbed her face with both hands. Her cheeks flushed as if she’d applied blush. Rolling her eyes and fanning herself, she exhaled deeply.

“…I thought we were keeping it a secret, but I guess I slipped up without realizing.”

“We had our suspicions. Team Leader and I were wondering about your relationship. So, when did it start?”

“Well, we’ve been dating for about three weeks… But feelings developed much earlier. Remember when we went clubbing to catch Cheon Seong-won? After Yeon-ah left, I was about to leave too, but this guy took such good care of me. That’s when it started… You know.”

Mabel looked embarrassed recounting their history aloud. Rock stood silently beside her, nodding in agreement.

Watching the sweet chemistry between them made Ra-on’s heart flutter. Their gazes held deep affection. Smiling softly, she gestured toward the bar entrance.

“Let’s talk more inside. I’m completely sober now, so let’s have a few more drinks. It’d be a shame to end things here.”

“You really know what to say. Let’s finish off the wine we were drinking earlier.”

Mabel quickly linked arms with Ra-on. Smiling brightly, she pushed open the bar door with her free hand. The chilly air from earlier seemed like a lie—now, the atmosphere was warm and cozy. The moon shone large and bright in the sky.

---

The rare team dinner ended before 9 p.m. Though it was early to call it quits, they couldn’t leave those passed out drunk unattended.

After sending Rock and Mabel off in a taxi and dropping off the groggy Ray, the surroundings finally quieted down. Si-heon parked his car in the underground lot of Ra-on’s apartment building and massaged his stiff neck. Taking care of drunk teammates fell to those who hadn’t touched alcohol.

“Hmm, thank you for dropping me off, Senior. …Are you leaving now?”

“You need to go in, wash up, and rest. You drank quite a bit.”

“That’s true, but… Can you stay for ten more minutes? I’m almost sober.”

Parting ways now felt strangely regretful. Ra-on gently tugged at the hem of Si-heon’s shirt. Her flushed cheeks, tinged with alcohol, were adorable. Suppressing the urge to pinch her cheek as usual, he chuckled softly.

“Alright. Just ten minutes.”

“…Okay.”

They stood by the entrance of the first floor, gazing at each other. How long had their eye contact lasted? Suddenly remembering something, Si-heon pulled two envelopes from his coat pocket.

“Here, this is for you.”

“What’s this?”

“You haven’t received your birthday gift yet. I can’t let it slide.”

“Aww, your thoughtfulness is enough… But what is this?”

One envelope likely contained a letter, but the other’s contents were a mystery. Ra-on blinked, looking up at Si-heon.

“Read the letter alone when you get home. As for the gift… Open it and see.”

Following his instructions, she opened the white envelope. Inside were two neatly folded papers. What could it be? Confused, she unfolded them.

“Departure from Incheon… Layover in Singapore? Is this a flight reservation?”

“Yes. But you missed the important part. Look at the next page.”

“Arrival at Male Airport… Male Airport?”

The name sounded unfamiliar. Perhaps the alcohol dulled her ability to connect the dots. Malaysia? Then there’d be no need for a layover in Singapore. Various guesses tangled like thin threads. Tilting her head, she admitted defeat.

“Maldives… There’s no direct flight, so we’ll need a layover. Is that okay?”

“The Maldives…?”

“Yes. Didn’t you say you wanted to see the sea? Let’s go together next week.”

Looking again, the departure date was just five days away. Rubbing her eyes, Ra-on examined the paper once more and gasped, turning to Si-heon.

“Are we going together?”

“Of course. There are two tickets.”

“But… I did want to see the sea, though I thought we’d go somewhere like Jeju Island.”

“This is our first trip together. I wanted to take you somewhere amazing. Do you like your birthday gift?”